Greatest Canadian:
Jeff Healey
Jeff Healey
- Born: March 25, 1966, Toronto
- Died: March 2, 2008 (41), Toronto
- Was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, and had to get both of his eyes removed when he was 8 months.
- married Krista Miller (October 1992 - 1998) (divorced) (1 child)
- Cristie Hall (18 July 2003 - 2 March 2008) (his death) (1 child)
Conclusion
Growing Up
- At age 3, Jeff's dad gave him his first guitar.
- At the age of 13, his first band, Blue Direction, was created.
- Jeff was discovered at Albert's Hall on July 27, 1985 when he was 19.
- 2 days later the Jeff Healey band was created
- Jeff was an avid record collector and collected well over 30,000 78 rpm records
I think that Jeff Healey should be considered the greatest Canadian because he is a clear example of never giving up, and never letting anything get in your way. He was faced with one of the hardest challenges a person could have to fight, and managed to make it as long as he could, leaving many people awestruck, and inspired. There is no doubt that Jeff will continue to inspire people, and his memory will remain in Canadian minds for quite some time.
Thanks!
The Jeff Healey Band
- Members: Joe Rockman, Tom Stephen, Jeff Healey
- Awards: Juno Award for Entertainer of the Year, MuchMusic Video Award for Peoples Choice: Favourite Canadian Group
- Nominated: Juno Award for album of the year, Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, Juno Award for Group of the Year
Jeff's Death
- At age 41, Jeff lost his life long battle with cancer as it had gotten to his lungs, and passed away just 3 weeks before his 43rd birthday and a month before the release of Mess of Blues, which was his first rock/blues album in eight years.
- on May 3, 2008, a tribute concert was held to benefit Daisy's Eye Cancer Fund, which helped make major strides in research for people born with the same genetically inherited retinoblastoma